Electrically operated carillon



5, 1953 H. T. VAN BERGEN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CARILLON 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1951 IIHMH (D N N m m INVENTOR HI VAN BE RGEN Vb FMW ATTORNEY 1953 H. T. VAN BERGEN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CARILLON 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 22, 1951 wuuvimam 0304 OF mucjmrz AT TOR NE Y Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CARILLON Harmannus '1. van Bergen, Greenwood, S. 0.

Application May 22, 1951, Serial No. 227,664

3 Claims.

operating with heavy tuned bronze bells.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bell-chime or carillon having tonal qualities which are far superiorv to those obtained with chimes employing tubes, ,bars or strings as thevibratory musical elements.

A further object is to providea miniature electrically operated carillon employing genuine tuned bells which may be played in full harmony, or in chords, rather than in single notes only, as is necessary in systems employing tubes, bars and strings.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electrical pick-up device, designed specially for use with my tuned carillon bells and operating in a circuit containing an amplifier which supplies current to loudspeakers.

A further object is to provide an improved and simplified bell hammer or striker action which is electrically operated from a keyboard, or the like.

A further object is to provide improved means for suspending the carillon bells from their frame or support, whereby vibrations will not be transmitted from one bell to another through the frame, or from the striker mechanisms to the bells except by the strikers themselves.

A further object is to provide a bell striker and damper mechanism wherein the striker or hammer engages the inner surface of the bell to ring the same and the damper element engages the outer surface of the bell after the same is struck by the striker.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bell-chime or carillon of the abovementioned type which is simplified, compact, durable in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bell unit my electrically operated carillon,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is e la ged cent al vertical section 2 taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2, parts in elevation,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a diagram of an electrical circuit embodied in each bell unit of the carillon, and,

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section, taken on line II of Figure 4.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 designates generally a frame or support for the bell units comprising the carillon, and including an overhead horizontal beam II, and spaced upright supports comprising upwardly converging legs I2 carrying the beam II. The legs I2 may be mounted upon a bottom horizontal platform or plank I3, and rigidly secured thereto. The beam II and platform I 3 may be of any desired length for supporting the preferred number of bell units I4 making up the carillon. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown a single unit I4 on the drawings, which is typical in all respects of the other bell units, not shown, constituting a complete bellchime or carillon. The other bell units of the careach bell unit is identical with the unit illustrated in the drawings.

The unit I4 comprises a bell I5 of real bell metal or bronze, and accurately tuned to produce a note or tone of a quality closely simulating the tone of a full size heavy bell of a tower carillon. The bell I5 is suspended centrally between the overhead beam II and platform I3, and between adjacent pairs of the legs I2. The bell I5 is provided at its top with a thick apertured suspension lug I6, formed integral therewith and subject to substantially no vibration when the bell is struck due to its thickness or heaviness in cross section as compared to the vibratory skirt of the bell. A pair of heavy leather suspension straps H are arranged upon opposite sides of the lug I6 and provided near their lower ends with apertures registering with the aperture of the lug I6, and receiving a bolt I8 or the like, which extends through the lug I6 and both suspension straps. The bolt I8 oarries a nut l9 and washer 2|], and when the nut is tightened, the straps I I are tightly clamped against the opposite faces of the lug I6. A thick leather disc 2| or vibration shield rests upon the top of the bell and has a central opening 22 receiving the lug It. The upper ends of the suspension straps ll pass between a pair of opposed depending blocks or arms 23, rigidly secured at 24 to the overhead beam Ii. The arms 23 and straps H are apertured near the upper ends of the straps for the reception of a bolt 25 connecting the straps and arms 23. A substantially rigid spacer bar 26 of wood or the like may be arranged between the suspension straps ll above the lug l and this spacer bar also has an aperture receiving the bolt 25. The spacer bar 26 adds rigidity to the bell mounting and prevents the bell from swaying unduly due to the flexibility of the straps H.

The leather suspension straps H and disc or cap 2| serve to insulate the bell i5 against vibrations which it might otherwise pick up from adjacent bells of the carillon or through the supporting structure or striker mechanism, to be described. It has been found that leather possesses ideal qualities of vibration dampening, strength and durability.

The unit i4 further comprises hammer or striker mechanism 2?, which may be mounted upon a wooden block 28, rigidly secured to the platform l3. The mechanism 2'6 comprises a horizontal plate 29, slidably mounted upon the block 28 and provided near its opposite sides with adjusting slots 30, receiving screws 3! or the like, serving to rigidly connect the plate 29 and block 28, with the plate arranged in the selected adjusted position. At its forward edge and transverse center, the plate 29 has an integral vertical extension or lug 32 projecting above and below the plate and spaced forwardly of the block 28. The lug 32 carries an adjusting set screw 33 which engages the forward edge of the block 28 so that the plate 29 may be accurately adjusted transversely of the platform l3 and then looked in the selected adjusted position by the screws 3i.

A pair of upstanding inclined arms 34 are preferably formed integral with the plate 29 at its inner end and extend above the plate and block 28 for a substantial distance. The arms 34 are rigid, and their upper ends terminate near and below the lower end of the bell l5. The arms 34 are arranged near and inwardly of the side wall or skirt of the bell, as shown. The arms 34 are provided near their upper ends with longitudinal slots 35, adjustably receiving a horizontal shaft 36 carrying pairs of lock nuts 3'! which clampingly engage the opposite faces of the arms 34 to rigidly secure the shaft in the selected adjusted position.

A vertically swingable striker arm 38 is arranged at the longitudinal center of the shaft 36 and has a hub portion 39 provided with a graphite impregnated rubber bushing 40, rotatably receiving the shaft 36 and providing a resilient pivotal mounting for the striker arm. The striker arm 38 is maintained centered on the shaft 36 by stop collars 4|, rigidly connected with the shaft 35 by means of set-screws or the like. The striker arm includes an upwardly extending inclined portion 42, projecting above the bottom edge of the bell l5 and inside of the same, Figure 3. Near its upper end, the portion 42 carries an adjustable screw threaded pin 43, provided with a lock nut 44, and the pin 43 is arranged at right angles to the striker arm portion 42. The forward end of the pin 43 is equipped with a head or tip 45 of soft wood, or the like, adapted to strike the. inner surfac i 4 the bell skirt near and above the lower end of the bell.

The striker arm 38 further includes a depending generally vertical extension 46, integral therewith and having its lower end terminating near the longitudinal centers of the arms 34. A generally L-shaped damper arm or rod 41 is arranged in opposition to the striker arm 38 and carried by the same. The rod 4'! has its lower generally horizontal portion 49v engaging through an opening formed in the extension 46, near and below the hub 39. The portion 49 is screwthreaded, as shown, and provided upon opposite sides of the extension 46 with lock nuts 50, serving to rigidly secure the rod 47 in the selected adjusted position relative to the arm 38 and bell [5. The L-shaped rod 41 is adapted to swing in a vertical plane with the striker arm 38, and its upwardly extending-generally vertical portion 5| is disposed laterally outwardly of the adjacent side of the bell l5 and substantially parallel thereto in the position shown in Figure 3. A block or head 52 of wood or the like is longitudinally adjustably mounted upon the upper end of the portion 5|, and locked in the selected adjusted position by lock nuts 53,, having screw threaded engagement with the rod portion 5|. The block 52 carries a damper pad or cushion 54 of foam rubber, or the like, cemented or otherwise permanently secured thereto. The damper pad 54 engages the outer surface of the bell I5 at a point opposite the strikerhead 45, to dampen the vibration of the bell after it has been struck Means are provided to hold the damper pad 54 normally in engagement with the bell l5 to prevent the same from Vibrating except when struck by the head 45. This means comprises a depending arm or rod 55 of stiff wire or the like, rigidly connected with the extension '46, as shown, and provided at its lower end with a hook 56, spaced below the extension 45 and connected with one end of a retractile coil spring 51, having its forward and connected with a hook 58, formed integral with a horizontal adjustin rod 59, disposed near and above the plate 29 and passing through an opening 60 formed near the upper end of the lug 32. The rod 55. is adjustably clamped within the opening 60 by a set screw 6! or the like, Figure l. The arrangement is such that the spring 5? urges the striker arm 38 rearwardly, or away from the skirt of the bell I 5, and the damper pad 54 is held normally in contact with the bell. With this arrangement, the bell cannot pick up vibrations caused by the ringing of other bells in the carillon, or from any other outside source.

A stationary electrical solenoid coil 52 is housed in a casing 63', rigidly secured to a mounting bracket 64', in turn rigidly secured by means of screws 65' or the like to the plate 23. The core or armature 63 of the solenoid carries a horizontal rod 64 equipped at its end with a leather tip 55, in alignment with and engaging the extension 46 to operate the striker arm 38. The stationary solenoid coil 62 is connected by wires 66 and 61 in a suitable electrical circuit with the solenoids of the other bell units of the carillon so that the striking of the carillon bells may be coordinated from a piano typ keyboard. This electrical circuit between the solenoids and keyboard may be conventional, and forms no part of the present invention. When the solenoid coil 62 is energized, the core 63 shifts to the right, Figure 3, and the striker arm 3B swings counter-'- clockwise until the wooden tip 45 strikes the bell n P o u s the note. As soon as the coil 62 is deenergized, the spring 5! returns th striker arm 38 to its inoperative position, Figure 3, and the damper pad 54 now engages the outer face of the bell. The solenoid plunger 63 is likewise returned by the spring 5'! to its position shown dotted in Figure 3. Attention is directed to the fact that the entire striker mechanism 21, including the plate 29, solenoid, striker arm 38 and associated elements is adjustable as a unit toward and from the bell l5, by virtue of the slots 38 and adjusting set screw 33.

The bell unit l4 further comprises an electromagnetic pick-up device 88, including an elongated rigid support arm 69 spaced from the side of the bell i5 and curved longitudinally to conform to the shape of the bell. The support arm 68 has a top transverse extension i9, disposed above the leather disc 2! and provided with an opening "ll receiving th bolt I8, whereby the support arm is rigidly secured to the bell and insulated against receiving vibrations from the bell by the adjacent leather strap H. The support arm 69 may be formed as a casting, or the like, and should be quite rigid. The lower end of the arm 69 extends below the lower end of the bell, as shown. A mounting block 12 of brass or the like is rigidly secured to the arm 69 near its lower end by screws 73. The block 72 has a longitudinal opening or slot .4 within which is rigidly mounted one arm 15 of a U-shaped permanent magnet 16. The U-shaped magnet 78 is disposed with the arm 69 in a vertical plane, and the block 12 and arm 15 are spaced from the outer surface of the bell l5 and arranged substantially at the lower end of the bell. The inner side or arm 11 of the U-shaped magnet I6 is disposed inwardly of the inner surface of the bell and arranged in opposition to the arm 15. The magnet arms 15 and 11 include opposed magnetic pole pieces 78 and 19, having their free ends arranged in close spaced relation with the opposite ends of a plug 88 of iron or magnetic material, and rigidly secured within a small opening formed in the bell near its lower edge. The plug 80 is employed because the bell I5 is formed of bronze or nonmagnetic material. First and second coils BI and 82 of fine wire are wound about the pole pieces 18 and '19 respectively, and the coils 8| and 82 are disposed upon opposite sides of the bell skirt. A terminal strip 83 is secured at 84 to the lower end of the arm 69, and includes 3 terminals 85, 86 and 81.

The coil 8| is connected by a Wire 88 with the terminal 8?, and a wire 89 leads from the terminal 81 to the coil 82, Figure 6. The other end of the coil 82 is connected through a wire 98 with the terminal 85, and a wire 9| leads from the terminal 85 to a wire 92 having one end connected with the terminal 8'! and its other end connected with one terminal of an amplifier 93. A wire 94 leads from another terminal of the amplifier to the terminal 86, and a wire 95 connects the terminal 88 with the other end of the coil 8|.

In operation, when the bell I5 is struck during the playing of the carillon, the vibration of the bell skirt causes the plug 80 to vibrate in both directions between the pole pieces i8 and 19. This causes a current wave corresponding to the frequency of vibration of the bell to be developed in the pick-up coils 8i and 82, which are connected in series so that the currents induced within them are additive. Since the currents developed in the coils 8i and 82 are additive, less amplification is required, and the amplifying apparatus is cheaper than would be the case if a single pick-up coil only were used. Also, a much more accurate reproduction of the bell tone is transmitted to the amplifier and loudspeakers than would be the case where a single pick-up coil was used, without the additive eifect of the currents developed in the two coils. When the vibration of the bell induces the current in the coils 8i and 82, such current flows from one end of the coil 8| through the wires 88 and 89, to the coil 82. The current then flows through the coil 82, wires 90, 9] and 92 to the amplifier 93. After passing through the amplifier 93, the current flows through the wires 94 and 95 to the other end of the pick-up coil 8|, thus completing the circuit.

It should be understood that each bell unit l4 of the carillon contains one of the pick-up devices 68, embodying a circuit such as that shown in Figure 6. While the amplifier 93 has been shown connected with only the two wires 92 and 94, it should be understood that the amplifier may contain any desired number of connections to accommodate the pick-up circuits of all bell units of the carillon.

It can now be seen that I have provided an electrically operated carillon, including bell units, employing genuine tuned bells which may be played in full harmony from a keyboard to closely simulate the tonal qualities of a genuine full size tower carillon. The bell I5 is mounted in a manner substantially completely insulating it against picking up vibrations from the supporting structure, adjacent bell units and from any outside source. The striker mechanism is simplified in construction, smooth and positive in operation and fully adjustable to fit variations in bell size. The electromagnetic pick-up device 68 is highly efiicient in reproducing the true tone of the bell [5, as previously explained. The entire bell unit I4 is simplified and compact in construction and arrangement, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a carillon, a bell having a relatively thin vibratory sidewall and including a top, the bottom of the bell being open, a relatively thick substantially non-vibratory lug secured to the top of the bell, suspension means connected with the lug and supporting the bell, a substantially rigid support arm secured to the lug and extending near the sidewall of the bell exteriorally thereof, a substantially U-shaped magnet bodily mounted upon the support arm near the bottom of the bell and having opposed pole pieces, the vibratory sidewall of the bell extending between the pole pieces in close proximity thereto, pick-up coils wound about the pole pieces of the magnet, and striker means for the bell.

2. In a carillon, a bell having a vibratory sidewall and a top, the lower end of the bell being open, a relatively thick substantially non-vibratory element secured to the top of the bell for connection with suspension means which support the bell, a generally L-shaped support arm having one end secured to the non-vibratory element and'extending over the top of the bell and downwardly adjacent to the vibratory sidewall in spaced relation therewith, the support arm being substantially rigid, a substantially U- shaped magnet secured to the support arm near the inner side of the support arm and having upwardly directed sides arranged inwardly and outwardly of the vibratory sidewall of the bell, pole pieces secured to the upwardly directed sides of the magnet and disposed upon opposite sides of the vibratory sidewall of the bell near the lower end of the bell, and pick-up coils wound about the pole pieces and electrically connected in series.

3. In a carillon, a bell having a vibratory sidewall and including a top, the bottom of the bell being open, a heavy upstanding lug secured to the top of the bell, a leather suspension strap engaging a side of the upstanding lug, a substantially rigid support arm arranged near the sidewall of the bell and extending near the bottom of the bell and having its upper end engaging the leather strap, bolt means engaging the lug, leather strap and support arm and securing them together so that the strap insulates the support arm from vibrations, a substantially U- shaped magnet bodily mounted upon the support S arm near the bottom of the bell and including spaced opposed pole pieces, an element formed of magnetic material secured to the vibratory sidewall near the bottom of the bell and disposed between the pole pieces, pick-up coils wound upon the pole pieces and electrically connected in series, and striker means forthe bell.

I-IARMANNUS T. VAN BERGEN.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 516,559 Wilkins Mar. 13, 1894 878,387 Havassy Feb. 4, 1908 1,490,476 Morris Apr. 15, 1924 1,896,146 Wende Feb. '7, 1933 1,948,104 Firestone et a1. Feb. 20, 1934 2,413,062 Miessner Dec. 24, 1946 2,456,321 Rhodes Dec. 14, 1948 2,472,595 Kunz June '7, 1949 2,548,710 Dodd Apr. 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 727,230 France June 15, 1932 

